Play chess with a friend from a link
Create a game, copy the link or the short code, and send it. Your friend opens it and sits on the other side. There is no download and no signup required to finish a game. Choose White, Black, or random before you create. If you tick Open game, the match is listed in the lobby so anyone can sit down; leave that off if you only want the people you text.
Time controls are grouped the usual way. Blitz is 3 minutes, 3|2, or 5 minutes. Rapid is 10 minutes (the default) or 15|10. For a slower game, pick 30 minutes or a 24-hour daily clock. Clocks use the same increment rules you see on other sites: after you move, increment seconds are added.
Without an account, the game still works; the result is not attached to a profile. Sign in if you want the result, XP, and a Glicko-2 rating saved. Those show up on your account and the leaderboard. One player can stay a guest—only the signed-in side keeps the rating.
If you close the tab, your opponent sees that you left. Open the same link again while the game is still active to come back. When the game ends you can offer a rematch from the same page. After a game, paste the moves into the analyzer if you want a hint on a critical position. No partner? Use Play vs AI. For a short tactic instead of a full game, open the daily puzzle. Opening ideas are in the openings guide and the other articles.